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Posted on: August 17, 2016

League City takes reins, charts new path with ‘Roadmap to the Future’

League City is one of the fastest growing cities throughout the region and is steadily implementing the community’s ‘Roadmap to the Future’ with the vision of becoming the best place to live, work and play.

The city developed its ‘Roadmap to the Future’ during an envisioning workshop in January 2015 with input and direction from the community and City Council.

“Our ‘Roadmap to the Future’ establishes a vision and plan for League City,” said Mark Rohr, City Manager. “The roadmap’s progress is our report card to the citizens on how we are doing and where we are going. We have been working to bring the goals set forth by the community and City Council to fruition and have made progress in terms of marching forward and addressing these particular items.”

The city’s roadmap was recently updated with checkmarks to illustrate that 64% of short-term, 70% of mid-term, and 50% of long-term goals are currently in the works.

“We are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for every citizen and business operating within League City,” said Rohr. “Progress is steady …the check marks on the roadmap indicate projects in motion. Each is important to the community, but does take some time to happen because they are rather involved.”

However, visible signs of progress are already evident throughout the city.

Transportation has been a major topic of discussion for some time, particularly, the area known as Five Corners where FM 518, FM 270 and FM 2094 intersect. The city recently acquired possession of all six necessary properties in the area and has begun executing plans to alleviate traffic congestion around Five Corners. This will include building demolitions within the coming weeks like the old Mattress Firm location. Construction is anticipated to begin in September. The Five Corners Project was first discussed in 1992.

Two other key short-term goals identified in the city’s ‘Roadmap to the Future’ are economic development and downtown revitalization.

Downtown revitalization has been a discussion item for more than 40 years amongst council members, the community and city staff with the original concept being advanced in 1974. A proposal to revitalize the city’s downtown area and capitalize on the city’s rich history was presented to and approved by City Council in May 2016. City Council also approved the creation of a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone and an action plan related to the Community Development Block Grant Program to help move the revitalization project forward.

City representatives and engineering design professionals have been addressing concerns and gaining public input as they further develop the design review standards to bring the project to fruition. The League City community should expect to see utility and asphalt work to reconstruct ailing road and sidewalk areas and the burying of overhead utilities within the near future. The city is currently rehabilitating the wastewater system along Main Street as part of annual wastewater investment and in preparation for these future improvements.

The city’s Economic Development team is also focused on broadening the business and commercial development bases. This is expected to help diversify the tax base of League City and reduce its reliance on residential taxes as the main source of revenues.

“The city has three main sources of revenue: residential, commercial and industrial,” said Rohr. “Right now, it’s not balanced – our residents carry the load of property taxes for the city. We are doing better in terms of lengthening our commercial leg and with the economic development team that we have in place, we fully anticipate seeing more growth in our general business and commercial efforts which help balance the tax base.”

City staff is also working behind the scenes to modernize and conduct business more efficiently.

For example, the city recently procured MUNIS Software from Tyler Technologies, a computer software system focused on enhancing customer service for residents, businesses and city employees. The system replaces IBM Application System/400 (AS/400), a program used by city staff since 1989, to manage vendors, city financials, vendor payments, payroll, utility billing, purchasing, and aspects of code enforcement, building and planning. The new software goes live Oct. 1 of this year and will allow city staff to operate more efficiently and effectively with self-service functions for vendors, residents and employees.

“Great things are on the horizon for League City,” said Rohr. “We have the energy and capability to achieve each goal on our roadmap. Some goals will take longer than others; however, I am confident each will be achieved through the vision, plan and staff we have in place. Additionally, the budget recently transmitted to City Council will help us realize more of the long-term goals set forth by placing focus on infrastructure and facilities reinvestment.”

NOTE: League City’s ‘Roadmap to the Future’ was adopted by City Council in February 2015 and is available for viewing at www.leaguecity.com/roadmaptothefuture. An update on the city’s ‘Roadmap to the Future’ was presented to City Council on July 25, 2016. The presentation is available for viewing at time marker 31:09 at http://leaguecitytx.swagit.com/play/08052016-614.